Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition

Wisdom

19 chapters

Chapters

Wisdom 1

Love justice, you that are the judges of the earth. Think of the Lord in goodness, and seek him in simplicity of heart.

For they have said, reasoning with themselves, but not right: The time of our life is short and tedious, and in the end of a man there is no remedy, and no man hath been known to have returned from hell:

Wisdom 3

But the souls of the just are in the hand of God, and the torment of death shall not touch them.

Wisdom 4

O how beautiful is the chaste generation with glory: for the memory thereof is immortal: because it is known both with God and with men.

Wisdom 5

Then shall the just stand with great constancy against those that have afflicted them, and taken away their labours.

Wisdom 6

Wisdom is better than strength, and a wise man is better than a strong man.

Wisdom 7

I myself also am a mortal man, like all others, and of the race of him, that was first made of the earth, and in the womb of my mother I was fashioned to be flesh.

Wisdom 8

She reacheth therefore from end to end mightily, and ordereth all things sweetly.

Wisdom 9

God of my fathers, and Lord of mercy, who hast made all things with thy word,

Wisdom 10

She preserved him, that was first formed by God the father of the world, when he was created alone,

Wisdom 11

She prospered their works in the hands of the holy prophet.

Wisdom 12

O how good and sweet is thy spirit, O Lord, in all things!

Wisdom 13

But all men are vain, in whom there is not the knowledge of God: and who by these good things that are seen, could not understand him that is, neither by attending to the works have acknowledged who was the workman:

Wisdom 14

Again, another designing to sail, and beginning to make his voyage through the raging waves, calleth upon a piece of wood more frail than the wood that carrieth him.

Wisdom 15

But thou, our God, art gracious and true, patient, and ordering all things in mercy.

Wisdom 16

For these things, and by the like things to these, they were worthily punished, and were destroyed by a multitude of beasts.

Wisdom 17

For thy judgments, O Lord, are great, and thy words cannot be expressed: therefore undisciplined souls have erred.

Wisdom 18

But thy saints had a very great light, and they heard their voice indeed, but did not see their shape. And because they also did not suffer the same things, they glorified thee:

Wisdom 19

But as to the wicked, even to the end there came upon them wrath without mercy. For he knew before also what they would do: